1. Freestone
2. Jones
3. Howard
4. O'Leary
5. De Vulgt #
6. Price
7. Jenkins @
8. Thomas
9. Boyd *
10. Cusack
11. Savarese

    ---

12. Jones J
13. Watkin #46
14. Lacey @45
15. Roberts *72
16. Casey

 Cambridge

1. Perez
2. McAnespie
3. Duncan
4. Dreyer
5. Cowan
6. Mustoe
7. Ashbee
8. Wanless
9. Russell
10. Connor
11. Youngs

    ---

12. Marshall
13. Taylor
14. Hansen
15. Axeldal
16. Gudmundsson

With Smith & Bound missing by suspension, yet another change to the line up was required. De Vulght came in at right back with Steve Jones moving across to partner O’Leary is the centre of defence with Howard on the left. Midfield was Price, Cusack, Jenkins & Thomas and a forward pairing of Saverasse & Boyd. The seating area allocated to away fans was near to its 250 capacity (225?). As the team warmed up at approx. 2.30 the heavens opened. What was slightly odd was that neither JH or AC were out on the pitch and the warm up was carried out by Cusack. Maybe as a show of solidarity against the comments lately, the team huddled together before the kick off. Then maybe they were just trying to keep warm. ?

The game started with the Swans facing into the monsoon conditions and were slow to start. Cambridge looked up for it and were quicker to the ball. Our midfield was being overrun without any real threat, but on 10mins they scored Roger saved well but the rebound was put straight into the net as their player reacted before our defence. Another goal was very similar and the third was a pass across from left to right splitting the defence for their player to run onto and slide it passed Rog as he came out.

Just over half an hour gone and we were three down. Cambridge were no better than us just hungrier. Their tactics were on some occasions over the top with many late or niggly fouls. One late scare towards the end of the first half, when Rog came out to meet one their players who went down. The ref ran towards them taking a card out, luckily he had seen the dive and gave their player a yellow card. Another yellow card followed for Ashby who had been having a go at winding Price up, the third attempt was seen by the assistant. We had 2 half chances from Saverasse & Boyd and a free kick from Howard. There was no real venom towards the team as half time came just the feeling there was no way back.

De Vulght & Jenkins were replaced by Watkin & Lacey. This seemed a better balance as we went with three upfront. The driving rain had stopped which although we thought would benefit Cambridge in fact did the reverse as we started to control the game. A lot of effort but the knockdowns were not finding the right man against a packed defence, with Cambridge playing more on the break. Another substitution half way through the half saw Roberts replacing the ineffectual Boyd. He showed spirit from the off and chased everything. On 75mins? A pinpoint cross from Roberts was met by Saverasse who headed passed Perez. Was this just a consolation?

More Swans pressure brought no reward until a minute from the end when a repeat effort from Saverasse saw us pull back to 3-2 down. The board showed 3 extra minutes could we in our wildest dreams score a third. The seconds passed away with the thoughts of ‘nearly’ but roared on by the fans Watkin got the third to send us all into raptures. A draw from the jaws of defeat. One more attack by us and then the final whistle.

Roberts ran the width of the pitch to join the celebrations with the ecstatic singing fans, players applauded everyone was happy.

Yes we were from 3 down to draw against all the odds with a weakened team.

On the journey home we listened to Phil from Pembroke saying that if we continued with the application shown in the second half we would soon climb the table. The question I would like to throw open to others at the game, is he right?

I saw a team that played much of the second half like the first. The difference being we did not face the atrocious conditions of the first and the big plus of seeing the return of Lacey who actually wanted the ball and encouraged the others. Tony S stats have shown that we get results when he plays. This result was ground out by route one football.Hopefully when S&B return we can at least put some depressing displays behind us.

An hour gone and three nil up...Cambridge were showboating their way to what looked like being a routine victory over a disjointed Swans side in appalling conditions. But they hadn't accounted for the fighting spirit which the Swans seemed to find from nowhere, and most importantly for the Super-Sub who came on to turn the game.

We had a hint of a revived team spirit before the first whistle when the Swans starting line-up gathered together for a pre-match huddle as the rain and wind began to gather force. And in the opening minutes it seemed to be paying off as they played the more constructive football. However, it wasn't long before our makeshift centre half pairing of Jones & O'Leary failed to clear the first dangerous cross of the game, allowing Paul Wanless a clear header which Roger parried, only to see Wanless nod home the rebound. The Swans responded well with some enthusiastic play, with Thomas and Cusack playing some probing through balls, and our exotic strike pairing of Savarese and Boyd testing the home defence with some penetrating runs and neat touches. But we failed to create any serious chances apart from a low shot from Savarese and a Cusack header, both easily saved.

With the gale force wind in their favour, and the torrential rain in the Swans faces, the U's looked dangerous on the break and Tom Youngs brought an excellent save from Freestone after 28 minutes. But he was not to be denied and a minute later he slid a low shot past Roger, as our defence looked on. Boyd nearly reduced the deficit after with an excellent turn and low shot but it was no surprise when the energetic home side exposed our defensive frailities once again when we failed to clear a low cross allowing Connor to shoot home at the second attempt (again after a parry from Roger). Things looked like getting worse when a Cambridge player fell theatrically over the diving Freestone, when apparently through on goal. We feared the worst when the ref reached for his cards, but had our only cheer of the half when the Cambridge player was booked for diving. We trooped off at half time looking like a well-beaten side, though the talk among the Swans fans was that the three nil deficit was harsh and that the weather conditions may favour us in the second half.

Curiously, and rather spookily, the weather changed at half time! The rain stopped and the wind died down, giving us very little advantage. Tactically, we responded with two substitutions (Lacey & Watkin for De-Vulgt and Jenkins) and swapped to a 4-3-3 formation. But this only prompted the home side to greater efforts as we again failed to clear a low cross and Neil Mustoe missed a sitter from 4 yards. "A turning point?" commented Huw, in a very prophetic statement. And after this we began to get a foothold in the game, mainly through the vision and accurate passing of Damien Lacey. But it wasn't until Roberts replaced Boyd, thaat this began to tell. Stu's aggressive running and wicked in-swinging crosses changed the game in our favour.

On the hour mark and excellent first time ball from Lacey found Roberts on the touchline who cut onto his left foot before placing an inch-perfect cross onto the head of Giovanni who finished well. But this began to look like a mere consolation as Cambridge began to dominate posession once again. However, with a minute to go, Roberts produced another devastating cross this time with his right foot from the byeline with Savarese applying the same result. The three minutes of injury time brought all out attack from the Swans, but it was a terrific solo effort from Steve Watkin which sent us into ecstasy as his fierce right foot drive hit the back of the net, leaving ex-Sunderland keeper Perez helpless. Another couple of minutes and we would probably have grabbed a winner, such was the turn-round in fortunes. The team, management and fans went into raptures with Stu Roberts running the length of the field to shake hands with all of us!

Freestone - 8 Not at fault for the goals, and otherwise steady
De-Vulgt - 6 A little out of his depth, though it should be said that all their goals came from the opposite side (see Howard!)
Howard - 6 struggled to cope with the home sides aggressive wing play in the first half, but was transformed in the second
Jones - 7 Did his best to hold the centre of defence together
O'Leary - 5 Doesn't really have the physical presence to play at centre-half (come back Mumford?)
Price - 6 Made little impression first half, but was far more robust and inventive in the second when he dropped back to right back
Thomas - 7 Never gave up the chase
Cusack - 8 Some intelligent probing passes and end to end play. Kept the others going.
Jenkins - 5 Never really got a foothold in the game
Boyd - 6 A couple of nice touches and some testing runs, but never really threatened the goal
Savarese - 9 The most complete performance we have seen from Gio - intelligent running, some nice touches and 2 terrific finishes.
Subs
Watkin - 8 Good link play topped by a magnificent goal
Lacey - 8 Good to see some genuine passing ability and vision in the midfield
Roberts - 9.5! Just changed the game. Gio scored the goals but Stu put them on a plate for him.

In summary a glorious recovery to steal a precious point. This was never a vintage performance, and we often looked disjointed and even, for a short while in the first half, rather dispirited. But the battling qualities were obvious, and there was much hope given by some of the individual performances, most notably Gio, Damien and Stu. We were also without our regular centre-half pairing and the more optimistic among us would say that we would surely have beaten this Camb-e-ridge side with them. There was terrific support from the travelling Swans today, with all 200 of them singing constantly for the team even when 3-0 down. We spoke to some of the players afterwards and one of them commented that they wished they could have support like that at the Vetch. It seems nexts weeks match vs Bristol Rovers will be big test both for players and fans alike.

An absolutely fantastic sensation to see that last goal go in - unbelievable - marvellous - wonderful - you had to be there. Credit where its due. Everyone involved should be justifiably proud. Further injury worries though - I turned my ankle during the manic celebrations and will have to undergo a fitness test in the week.

Just as last week, most of the action was at the other end. We were atrocious in the first half. We played too deep (not that I'm qualified to comment). Roger was struggling with his kicking into the gale and we couldn't win a header or string a pass together.

For some reason, at 0-3 heading for 0-?, it didn't "feel" as bad as last week but I still think the PoshJacks report was over optimistic. So..

Walter did one drag back and turn which left 4 Cambridge defenders kicking at thin air - almost worth the entrance fee on its own - but otherwise it wasn't his game - he hardly received a pass.

Savo is a great investment. At one point the centre half simply bounced off him. He can look after himself and is an athlete not an ape - his goals may keep us up. But we must feed him with some sort of service.

I didn't see any contribution from Lacey - other than duff passes and giving the ball away on our 18 yard box. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry, but that's how I saw it.

The crowd. Fairly (very!) quiet for long spells - but some good efforts at making positive noises. For me the defining moment was after our first. Someone started to sing "Four-ore Threeeee. We're going to win - four three, we're going.... " Everyone joined in. Maybe some on the pitch believed it. We certainly didn't but what the hell.

The jury's out for me on Stuart Roberts. But the moment at the end when he rushed over to the Swans supporters says everything about his passion and commitment.